DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
Blake Konczal, Executive Director
Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board
SUBJECT: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Local Plan Program Year 2021-2024, Two Year Modification
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Two-Year Local Plan Modification for Program Years 2021-2024.
REPORT
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no alternative action. If this item is not approved, the County of Fresno will be out of compliance with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requirements, and could lose funding for WIOA activities that benefit the residents of Fresno County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the Recommended Action. The Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board (FRWDB) is 100% funded by non-County sources. These have their origin primarily with the United States Department of Labor, and are supplemented by other federal and State of California grants.
DISCUSSION:
The Function of the Regional Plans:
Regional plans and partnerships required by WIOA function under California’s State Plan as the primary mechanism for aligning educational and training provider services with regional industry sector needs in California’s 14 WIOA RPUs. California state law requires coordination between the K-12, Community Colleges, and WIOA systems and requires the use of sector strategies as the operational framework for the state’s workforce system. These two (2) State-mandated requirements are met under the State Plan by making federally required WIOA Regional Plans and partnerships the primary mechanism for aligning educational and training programs with regional industry sector needs. As such, a focal point of regional plans is the identification, development, and utilization of “regional sector pathway” programs, aligned with regional industry sector needs.
The Function of the Local Plans:
Under the State Plan, the primary purpose of local workforce plans and partnerships is to facilitate access to workforce services at the local level. While WIOA Section 106 regional plans and partnerships are specifically focused on construction of a regional training and education architecture that aligns with regional labor markets, the Local Plan (Plan or Plans) addresses how individuals will access and experience this regional workforce architecture primarily through local service delivery efforts, principally those of WIOA partners operating in the America’s Job Centers of California system, formally known as “One-Stop Centers”, but potentially through other partners of the workforce system as well. In this regard, it is typically at the local level where services will be integrated, resources braided, and supportive services provided to individuals being served by partners.
WIOA Public Law Sections 106 and 107 and California Unemployment Insurance Code Sections 14221 - 14222 require that local boards submit a two (2)-year modification to the four (4)-year regional and local plans (plan) to the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB).
On October 27, 2022, the State released the draft Regional and Local Plan Modification Guidance for 2021-2024 (WSD 22-05), which provides guidance for the preparation and submission of both the Local and Regional Workforce Plan’s two (2)-year plan modifications required by WIOA. This directive provides guidance and establishes the procedures regarding the preparation of both regional and local plan modifications required by the WIOA.
In order to complete all aspects of the requirements of the Plans, the Directive mandates that each local board release the draft Plan for a 30-day public comment period and hold public meetings for stakeholders to ensure opportunities to participate in, and provide feedback on, the Local and Regional Plans as part of the initial development of the Plans. The stakeholder meetings were held December 16, 2020, January 14, 2021, on September 28, 2022, and October 12, 2022. In addition, a discussion was held with members of the FRWDB’s Executive Committee during their January 28, 2023, meeting. The draft plan was released for a 30-day public comment period on February 7, 2023, with comments due by March 9, 2023.
There was one (1) comment received during the public comment period; however, there were no comments received that resulted in significant changes to the initial draft Plans.
As outlined in the directive, the final Plan Modifications were required to be submitted to the State Board no later than March 31, 2023. The directive allowed for the final Plan modifications to be submitted pending approval and final signatures. In order to meet the submission deadline, the draft Plan modifications were sent to the CWDB pending final approvals from the FRWDB, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, and the City of Fresno.
The Plan was presented to the FRWDB on June 7, 2023, for approval. Upon approval of this item, the final Plans with all required signatures will be submitted to the State by June 30, 2023.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Fresno City Council
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #25, June 8, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - WIOA Local Plan Biennial Modification
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander